Coffee filters, Monopoly, car wipers, wireless technology, computer programming .... These and other interesting inventions have one thing in common - they were invented by women.
Despite significant contributions, many of the women inventors went unnoticed and were not appreciated.
Coffee filters
Thanks Melitte Benz from Germany we no longer need to worry about the sediment in the coffee cup. Benz really wanted to improve and make the procedure of drinking coffee more enjoyable. She was annoyed by the bitter taste of the drink and small particles of grains floating in a cup.
She began her experiments with blotting paper. She punched a hole in the bottom of the copper cup, and put the paper down. Thus, she found a solution to the problem and created a paper filter for coffee.
Subsequently, Melitta Benz received a patent for her invention and founded her own company for the production of coffee filters. The company was located in one of the rooms of her apartment.
The game "Monopoly"
Elizabeth Maggie (Lizzie) invented the first version of the game, patenting it in 1904 as the “Landlord Game” (landowner). She wanted people to understand what economic inequality is. Sold a Parker Brothers patent for $ 500.
30 years later, a man named Charles Darrow renamed and changed the concept of her game. He sold the game to Parker Brothers in 1935, without mentioning the original Landowner Game. He called the game "Monopoly". It was his version of the game that became world famous.
In the end, Lizzy was recognized for inventing the game. This is mentioned in "Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and Scandal over the Favorite Board Game in the World" in 2024.
Car wipers
Mary anderson from Alabama in 1902 visited New York. She noticed that many of the delays of the cars are related to stopping drivers in order to remove snow from their windshields. She came up with an idea and she outlined a scheme for solving the problem: a wiper with a lever inside the car.
In 1903, Anderson received a patent for his invention. Considering that the automotive industry was just beginning to develop at that time, its idea did not arouse much interest. However, now hardly any driver imagines a trip in the rain or in snowy weather without wipers.
Wireless technology
Hedi Lamarr was an actress and inventor. At one time she was recognized as "the most beautiful woman in the world."
Despite their popularity and success in Hollywood, during World War I, Lamarr and her colleague George Antheil created an extended-range radio. The system was designed to accurately direct torpedoes on a radio signal without interference.
Their discovery was the forerunner of modern wireless technology.
Computer programming
Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the English romantic poet Lord Byron, gave the first written instructions for the first computer program.
In the mid-19th century, she worked with mathematician Charles Babbage to translate the functions of his Analytical Engine. Translations made by her and published in 1843 clearly describe how the device works.
She also gave an algorithm that is capable of generating Bernoulli numbers. This algorithm is considered the world's first computer program.
Of course, they tried to discredit Adu Lovelas, including for her belonging to the female sex. But, we understand that today's websites and applications could not function without her input.
What women inventors do you know? Let's discuss.
